since i'm fond of horses and kind to animals in real life, i notice (and like) when individuals, either acting as their characters or their real-life selves, are nice to horses and ponies in the films. giving them gentle pats and so on.

i noticed quite a few individuals in auj patting their equine companions. not sure whether they were doing this because they were just being themselves or whether they thought their characters would do this, but i like seeing it.

gandalf pets shadowfax, and the horse on whom he rode to isengard. i think i also recall him petting his horse in auj.

bilbo / freeman of course pets myrtle. i believe i saw both dori and fili pet their ponies. i'll have to watch again, keeping the pony petters in mind, and keep a tally.

has anyone else noticed this?

cheers --

. aka. fili orc-enshield +++++++++++++++++++ the scene, as i understand it, is exceptionally well-written. fili (in sort of a callback to the scene with the eagles), calls out "thorRIIIIIIN!!!" just as he sees the pale orc veer in for the kill. he picks up the severed arm of an orc which is lying on the ground, swings it up in desperation, effectively blocking the pale orc's blow. and thus, forever after, fili is known as "fili orc-enshield."

this earns him deep respect from his hard-to-please uncle. as well as a hug. kili wipes his boots on the pale orc's glory box. -- maciliel telpemairo

. aka. fili orc-enshield +++++++++++++++++++ the scene, as i understand it, is exceptionally well-written. fili (in sort of a callback to the scene with the eagles), calls out "thorRIIIIIIN!!!" just as he sees the pale orc veer in for the kill. he picks up the severed arm of an orc which is lying on the ground, swings it up in desperation, effectively blocking the pale orc's blow. and thus, forever after, fili is known as "fili orc-enshield."

this earns him deep respect from his hard-to-please uncle. as well as a hug. kili wipes his boots on the pale orc's glory box. -- maciliel telpemairo

as the troop arrives at the desolate, former farm and prepares to make camp, in the background, dori and / or fili pets a pony.

cheers --

. aka. fili orc-enshield +++++++++++++++++++ the scene, as i understand it, is exceptionally well-written. fili (in sort of a callback to the scene with the eagles), calls out "thorRIIIIIIN!!!" just as he sees the pale orc veer in for the kill. he picks up the severed arm of an orc which is lying on the ground, swings it up in desperation, effectively blocking the pale orc's blow. and thus, forever after, fili is known as "fili orc-enshield."

this earns him deep respect from his hard-to-please uncle. as well as a hug. kili wipes his boots on the pale orc's glory box. -- maciliel telpemairo

Just had to throw that last one in there. Azog seems pretty fond of Daisy. "It was just a sword, beautiful in the way of a weapon, with the jewels in the hilt set in gold scrollwork, and the blade glimmering and eager, as if it would fight of itself. Weapons are named for this; some are eager fighters, some dogged, some unwilling; but all are alive."--The Hollow Hills

"It was just a sword, beautiful in the way of a weapon, with the jewels in the hilt set in gold scrollwork, and the blade glimmering and eager, as if it would fight of itself. Weapons are named for this; some are eager fighters, some dogged, some unwilling; but all are alive."--The Hollow Hills

Though it is not in film but in a Vlog, I love the quick shot of RA and his pony tossing their hair together. Is there a Tolkien topic that you have wanted to look into more deeply, and write about your thoughts on it? If so, we'd like to hear from you for the next TORn Amateur Symposium- coming in November. Happy writing!

People who are kind to (non-human) animals and like them are generally decent Just an observationů

Is there a Tolkien topic that you have wanted to look into more deeply, and write about your thoughts on it? If so, we'd like to hear from you for the next TORn Amateur Symposium- coming in November. Happy writing!

even decided to leave the ponies in Rivendell and save them from a rather gruesome fate. ( in the book they were devoured by certain goblins under the Misty Mountains) Faithful servant yet master's bane, Lightfoot's foal, swift Snowmane

... technically they bolted, but i definitely noticed that in auj, the ponies got a better fate than in the book.

let's see how the ponies beorn will lend them wind up. i hope they too get a better fate in the films than they did in the book.

cheers --

. aka. fili orc-enshield +++++++++++++++++++ the scene, as i understand it, is exceptionally well-written. fili (in sort of a callback to the scene with the eagles), calls out "thorRIIIIIIN!!!" just as he sees the pale orc veer in for the kill. he picks up the severed arm of an orc which is lying on the ground, swings it up in desperation, effectively blocking the pale orc's blow. and thus, forever after, fili is known as "fili orc-enshield."

this earns him deep respect from his hard-to-please uncle. as well as a hug. kili wipes his boots on the pale orc's glory box. -- maciliel telpemairo

that the ponies Beorn gave them returned- the Dwarves were lent them to take as far as the entrance to the elf road into Mirkwood, but had to send them back, Beorn, as a bear, trails them, at a distance, to ensure that they treat the ponies well and let them go- the ponies can take themselves home. It is the ponies they are given at Lake Town which get barbecued by Smaug. Moral of the story? If you're a pony, never volunteer to carry a dwarf!! Is there a Tolkien topic that you have wanted to look into more deeply and write about your thoughts on it? If so, we'd like to hear from you for the next TORn Amateur Symposium- coming in November. Happy writing!

you're right telain elaen, i was confusing them with the lake town ponies.

nevertheless, i hope the ponies get a better cinematic fate than the literary one.

you know -- one of the things i sorely missed in return of the king was a nice cameo of bill, safe in the shire.

cheers --

. aka. fili orc-enshield +++++++++++++++++++ the scene, as i understand it, is exceptionally well-written. fili (in sort of a callback to the scene with the eagles), calls out "thorRIIIIIIN!!!" just as he sees the pale orc veer in for the kill. he picks up the severed arm of an orc which is lying on the ground, swings it up in desperation, effectively blocking the pale orc's blow. and thus, forever after, fili is known as "fili orc-enshield."

this earns him deep respect from his hard-to-please uncle. as well as a hug. kili wipes his boots on the pale orc's glory box. -- maciliel telpemairo

Well actually, probably not- but weren't the three other hobbits on ponies, whilst Frodo rode in the cart with Bilbo? Then Sam returns on foot[crazy unless he had just stabled Bill nearby somewhere Is there a Tolkien topic that you have wanted to look into more deeply and write about your thoughts on it? If so, we'd like to hear from you for the next TORn Amateur Symposium- coming in November. Happy writing!

frodo's was tethered to the back of the wagon, because he rode with bilbo. it was to keep up the pretense until the last minute. frodo knew he wasn't returning, but merry, pippin, and sam did not.

i'm not sure why you're thinking that sam walked back on foot (?)

yes, it would have been lovely if sam had been riding bill.

cheers --

. aka. fili orc-enshield +++++++++++++++++++ the scene, as i understand it, is exceptionally well-written. fili (in sort of a callback to the scene with the eagles), calls out "thorRIIIIIIN!!!" just as he sees the pale orc veer in for the kill. he picks up the severed arm of an orc which is lying on the ground, swings it up in desperation, effectively blocking the pale orc's blow. and thus, forever after, fili is known as "fili orc-enshield."

this earns him deep respect from his hard-to-please uncle. as well as a hug. kili wipes his boots on the pale orc's glory box. -- maciliel telpemairo

I like that ideaRe Sam walking- in the last scene, Sam is seen walking around the bend to his hobbit hole, having just got back from the Grey Havens and says "Well, I'm back". He has no pony with him then, so, I'm assuming he had put the pony in the stable first Is there a Tolkien topic that you have wanted to look into more deeply and write about your thoughts on it? If so, we'd like to hear from you for the next TORn Amateur Symposium- coming in November. Happy writing!

i always assumed he put the pony back in the stable first. also, i have always rather thought that sam doesn't own a pony, that it was borrowed.

cheers --

. aka. fili orc-enshield +++++++++++++++++++ the scene, as i understand it, is exceptionally well-written. fili (in sort of a callback to the scene with the eagles), calls out "thorRIIIIIIN!!!" just as he sees the pale orc veer in for the kill. he picks up the severed arm of an orc which is lying on the ground, swings it up in desperation, effectively blocking the pale orc's blow. and thus, forever after, fili is known as "fili orc-enshield."

this earns him deep respect from his hard-to-please uncle. as well as a hug. kili wipes his boots on the pale orc's glory box. -- maciliel telpemairo

I always find this a positive side of someone's character (I grew up on horseback and with other critters as well).

Bilbo's little sneaky snack to Myrtle is very nice. Also find of Viggo Mortenson's horsemanship and obvious caring for his equine costars... and Orli's nose kissing (even though he is not as terrific a horseman).

Also: while in the books, Tolkien often reflects the reality of war by having the ponies get killed or eaten, the movies are kinder to them. Tolkien lived through WW I, in which untold millions of equines died alongside their human war partners.

Back In The Day (the 50s), TV western cowboys like Roy Rogers and Clayton Moore (the Lone Ranger) notably did a lot of horse hugging; their horses were, in fact, stars in their own right, and got more publicity sometimes than their human sidekicks.

So yeah, where are their stars on the Hollywood walk of fame????? Go outside and play...

Actually, I've always loved the part of the book when they return to Bree on the way home and Sam is reunited with Bill. After the way Tolkien treated the ponies of The Hobbit, I'm always so glad that Bill wasn't eaten by the Watcher in the Water!! Is there a Tolkien topic that you have wanted to look into more deeply and write about your thoughts on it? If so, we'd like to hear from you for the next TORn Amateur Symposium- coming in November. Happy writing!

that it must have bothered vigo to how his character to allow brego to be set loose with not only his halter, but a trailing rope.

cheers --

. aka. fili orc-enshield +++++++++++++++++++ the scene, as i understand it, is exceptionally well-written. fili (in sort of a callback to the scene with the eagles), calls out "thorRIIIIIIN!!!" just as he sees the pale orc veer in for the kill. he picks up the severed arm of an orc which is lying on the ground, swings it up in desperation, effectively blocking the pale orc's blow. and thus, forever after, fili is known as "fili orc-enshield."

this earns him deep respect from his hard-to-please uncle. as well as a hug. kili wipes his boots on the pale orc's glory box. -- maciliel telpemairo

a fairly short cotton rope is less of a hazard... I've seen horsemen leave such on a hard to catch horse in a clean paasture (with nothing to catch it on), a thick cotton rope is unlikely to cause issues like rope burn... when I adopted my mustang through the BLM's adopt-a-horse program, she was shoved through chutes (this is a wild, unhandled horse!), and a leather (breakable) halter and cotton lead were put on her as per the Rules... the corral faeries apparently came out and unwove the rope, leaving the snap dangling from the halter... she tamed rather well anyway...... Go outside and play...